Ghunnah in tajweed is the soft nasal sound you hear when a reciter reads words like inna (إِنَّ) or thumma (ثُمَّ). It is one of the most frequent sounds in the Quran, and once you learn to hear it, you will notice it on almost every line. In this guide we explain what ghunnah is, where it comes from, when to hold it for two counts, and how children and adults abroad can practise it at home.
What Is Ghunnah in Tajweed?
The word ghunnah (غُنَّة) means a nasal sound or a humming in the nose. In tajweed, it is a natural sound that comes out of the nasal cavity, called the khayshoom (الخيشوم). Ghunnah is a built-in quality of two letters only: noon (ن) and meem (م).
Every noon and meem carries some ghunnah, but its strength and length change depending on the situation. The rule most beginners learn first, and the focus of this article, is ghunnah mushaddadah: the ghunnah of a noon or meem that has a shaddah ( ّ ).
The Main Rule: Noon and Meem With Shaddah
Whenever you see نّ or مّ (noon or meem with a shaddah), you must pronounce a clear ghunnah and hold it for two counts (two harakat). One count is roughly the time it takes to open or close your finger at a calm, even pace.
Why does shaddah make the ghunnah stronger? A letter with shaddah is really two letters joined together: the first is sakin and the second carries a vowel. That doubled letter gives the nasal sound room to rest before you move on.
Easy Quran examples
- إِنَّ (inna) – the noon is held with ghunnah for two counts.
- ثُمَّ (thumma) – the meem is held with ghunnah before the final vowel.
- عَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ – the first words of Surah An-Naba (78:1).
- إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ – the opening of Surah Al-Kawthar (108:1).
- مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ – the last verse of Surah An-Nas (114:6), with two examples in one line. You can listen to it on Quran.com.
Notice that many of these examples are in Juz Amma, the part of the Quran most children memorize first. That makes ghunnah an ideal rule to practise during daily revision.
How to Pronounce Ghunnah in Tajweed Correctly
A good ghunnah is soft, steady and clearly coming from the nose. Try these simple steps:
- Find the sound. Say “nnn” or “mmm” with your mouth relaxed. Feel the vibration in your nose.
- Test it. Gently pinch your nose while saying the sound. If the sound stops, it is coming from the nose, which is correct for ghunnah.
- Count two. Read إِنَّ slowly: “in” – hold the “nn” for two counts – then “na”.
- Keep the lips right. For noon, the tongue touches the gum behind the upper teeth. For meem, the lips close fully while the ghunnah continues.
- Repeat in context. Read a whole ayah, not just one word, so the ghunnah becomes natural in your flow.
Where Else Do You Hear Ghunnah?
Ghunnah is not limited to the shaddah. It also appears in other tajweed rules you may already know:
- Ikhfa – when noon sakinah or tanween is hidden before one of the 15 letters, a ghunnah of about two counts is heard. Read our guide to ikhfa in tajweed.
- Idgham with ghunnah – when noon sakinah or tanween merges into ي، ن، م، و, the merge carries a ghunnah. See idgham in tajweed.
- Iqlab – when noon turns into a hidden meem before the letter ba, with ghunnah.
- Meem sakinah rules – such as a meem sakinah followed by another meem, which merges with ghunnah.
Scholars of tajweed describe levels of ghunnah. It is at its fullest with a shaddah and in merging, then in hiding, and it is only a light, natural part of the letter when noon or meem is read clearly or carries a vowel. For a beginner, the practical lesson is simple: shaddah on noon or meem means two counts of ghunnah.
Common Ghunnah Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- Rushing. Many readers say thumma like a quick English word. Slow down and give the meem its two counts.
- Over-stretching. Holding the ghunnah for four or five counts makes it sound like a madd. Keep it even and measured.
- Nasalizing the wrong letter. The nasal sound belongs to the noon or meem, not to the vowel before it.
- Losing it in fast recitation. In repeated phrases such as thumma kalla in Surah At-Takathur, readers often drop the ghunnah. Practise these lines slowly first.
- Opening the lips on meem. The lips must stay closed while the meem’s ghunnah is held.
Practising Ghunnah in Tajweed at Home With Your Children
For families living in the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe or Australia, the best tajweed practice is short and regular. A few ideas:
- “Spot the shaddah” game. Open a short surah and let your child circle every نّ and مّ they find, then read each one with two counts.
- Use the finger count. Children fold one finger for each count so they can see the length of the ghunnah.
- Record and compare. Record your child reading Surah An-Nas, then listen together to a trusted reciter and compare.
- Five minutes a day. Link ghunnah practice to an existing routine, such as after Maghrib.
- Get feedback. A qualified teacher can hear small mistakes that parents may miss and correct them before they become habits.
FAQ: Ghunnah in Tajweed
How many counts is ghunnah?
Ghunnah with a shaddah on noon or meem is held for two counts (two harakat). The same length is used in ikhfa, iqlab and idgham with ghunnah.
Which letters have ghunnah?
Only noon (ن) and meem (م). Tanween also carries ghunnah because it is pronounced as a noon sakinah.
Is ghunnah the same as madd?
No. Madd is the lengthening of a vowel sound through the long letters (ا، و، ي), while ghunnah is a nasal sound from the nose on noon and meem.
Can children learn ghunnah?
Yes. Ghunnah is usually one of the first tajweed rules children learn after the Noorani Qaida, because it is easy to feel and appears in the short surahs they memorize.
Can I learn ghunnah in tajweed online?
Yes. In a live one-to-one class, the teacher listens to every word, models the correct sound and corrects you right away, which works very well for this rule.
Book a Free Trial Class
Would you like your child, or yourself, to master ghunnah and the other tajweed rules step by step with a qualified teacher? Telawah Academy offers live, one-to-one online Quran, tajweed, hifz and Arabic classes for Muslim families abroad, at times that suit your time zone.
Book your free trial class today on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/201042642933 (+20 10 42642933).